Re-envisioning Mountain Futures

Theme: Addressing Regional or Local Challenges

Summary of Initiative

During the 2024–25 academic year, the program director for the MSc Management for Sustainability Transitions (MSc MST) launched Living Lab Imaginaries to reimagine sustainable futures for the Alpine Mountain region. It addresses environmental and societal challenges while fostering critical dialogue and cross-program collaboration.

Call to Action for Initiative

Living Lab Imaginaries was launched in response to pressing regional challenges facing the Alpine ecosystem. The Alps, long associated with winter tourism and economic vitality, are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, biodiversity loss, and shifting social dynamics. These transformations threaten not only the environmental integrity of the region but also the economic and cultural sustainability of mountain communities.

The initiative was inspired by Grenoble Ecole de Management’s (GEM) strategic vision, EAGLE 2030, which positions the school as the “Business School of the Alps.” This vision emphasizes the importance of regional engagement, environmental stewardship, and societal impact. GEM recognized the need to rethink traditional business models and tourism practices in mountain areas, particularly in light of reduced snowfall, changing visitor expectations, and the need for year-round economic resilience.

The challenge was twofold: to preserve the cultural heritage and natural beauty of the Alps while fostering sustainable development and community well-being. GEM identified a gap in how future business leaders were trained to address such complex, systemic issues. There was a need to move beyond technical solutions and foster deeper mindset shifts, encouraging students to engage critically with the past, present, and future of mountain spaces.

Living Lab Imaginaries invited students to question dominant narratives, engage with local stakeholders, and co-create tools that could catalyze change. The initiative leveraged GEM’s expertise in sustainability transitions, stakeholder engagement, and experiential learning to tackle a real-world issue with both local relevance and global significance. By focusing on the Alps—a region deeply tied to GEM’s identity and history—the initiative grounded its work in a tangible, urgent context. It aimed to empower students to become change-makers capable of designing inclusive, resilient solutions that reflect the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and cultural systems.

The work generated by the MSc MST students offered a perspective and historical foundation for the MBA’s “No Snow Tourism” challenge, which was a direct response to a societal need for regenerative tourism models that balance economic value with ecological and social responsibility.

The Chamrousse ski resort, a key regional partner, exemplified this challenge. Facing declining snow reliability and evolving consumer expectations, Chamrousse sought new strategies to remain viable while aligning with sustainability goals. GEM’s institutional commitment to sustainability, reflected in its mission-driven status and EAGLE 2030 strategy, provided the framework for this initiative. The school’s emphasis on transitions, science, and immersive learning ensured that the Living Lab Imaginaries was not a one-off project but part of a broader effort to redefine responsible management education.

Institution’s Role in Initiative

The Living Lab Imaginaries initiative addressed the challenge through a multilayered, innovative approach that combined academic rigor, stakeholder engagement, and experiential learning. The MSc MST program director designed and coordinated the initiative and, in collaboration with the MBA program director, included an exchange with MBA students to foster interdisciplinary learning.

The initiative began with a hackathon for the MSc MST students co-designed with Vincent Neirinck, mountain protection specialist from Mountain Wilderness France, and social impact strategist Nikki Polizzotto Neff. Students were tasked with reimagining mountain futures by drawing inspiration from historical narratives, ecological realities, and community needs. Rather than producing a single solution, they developed a toolkit—including discussion cards, slides, and a facilitator guide—to spark critical conversations about sustainability in mountain regions.

This toolkit became the foundation for facilitated sessions that encouraged participants to reflect on past practices, assess current challenges, and envision regenerative futures. Students practiced systems thinking and creative problem-solving, aligning with GEM’s pedagogical focus on immersive, real-world learning. The MSc MST students then engaged in cross-program collaboration with the MBA cohort.

The MSc MST students led a facilitated session supporting the MBA’s “No Snow Tourism” challenge, exploring how our understanding of Alpine Mountain spaces has evolved over time and what sustainable futures could look like, seeding new avenues of inquiry. By facilitating a transformative dialogue, the MSc MST students engaged the MBA students in a critical conversation about transitions, resilience, and the need to balance economic pressures with ecological stewardship.

To further integrate the sparks generated, the MSc MST-facilitated session was followed by an MBA “cubification” session led by Professor Hélène Michel to stimulate creative thinking, with other faculty members supporting students in translating theory into practice. Additionally, the Inclusive Sustainability Chair provided strategic alignment and facilitated connections with external stakeholders. This engagement across programs generated innovative MBA “No Snow Tourism” proposals, including remote work retreats for burnout recovery, farm-stay residencies, and star-gazing excursions. Each blended economic resilience in community and ecological value, supporting local heritage and natural ecosystems throughout the year.

The initiative’s success lay in its ability to shift mindsets. It emphasized inner development goals—such as openness, perspective-taking, and critical thinking—recognized as essential for long-term sustainability. It also exemplified that making a difference does not always mean building a product; it may mean opening minds, shifting perspectives, and empowering others to see sustainability challenges through fresh eyes.

Impact of Initiative

By fostering dialogue, co-creation, and mindset shifts, Living Lab Imaginaries catalyzed new approaches to sustainability and regenerative tourism.

One of the most significant outcomes was the development of a toolkit used to facilitate conversations about mountain futures. This toolkit enabled diverse stakeholders—including students, local businesses, and community members—to explore how perceptions of mountain spaces have evolved and how they might be reimagined. It was used in sessions with GEM’s MBA cohort, leading to two final project proposals focused on regenerative retreats and Alpine experiences that support local heritage and ecosystems.

These proposals, “Green Trip” and “Rework: A Regenerative Retreat for Remote Professionals,” have been submitted for publication in the Mountain Trends booklet, which will be shared with professionals across Isère and the broader Alpine ecosystem. This dissemination ensures that the ideas generated by students can influence real-world practices and inspire sustainable innovation in tourism and community development.

The initiative also facilitated an exchange with the University of Vermont’s Climate and Ethics group. GEM students used the toolkit to frame a weeklong visit, sparking critical conversations about resilience, transitions, and ecological stewardship. This international collaboration extended the initiative’s impact beyond the local region, demonstrating its relevance and adaptability.

Locally, the initiative strengthened ties between GEM and regional stakeholders. Students engaged with Chamrousse’s tourist office and local businesses, gaining insights into their constraints and aspirations. These interactions informed the development of proposals that balanced economic viability with environmental and cultural sustainability. Chamrousse also requested that GEM facilitate a day with resort management and local economic leaders to imagine new futures for the resort and its community, as climate change is modifying their seasons and activities.

The Cluster Montagne was also present for the event. Following the success of this day, a group of 100 GEM students spent a day with the resort, also working on imagined solutions to some of the most urgent climate-induced dilemmas it faced. These initiatives will now be rolled out to other mountain resorts and communities.

The initiative also contributed to GEM’s broader ecosystem strategy. It complemented efforts by the Inclusive Sustainability Chair and other research initiatives focused on energy efficiency, air quality, and carbon neutrality. By integrating student-led innovation with institutional research and stakeholder engagement, GEM created a holistic model for societal impact.

Importantly, the initiative empowered students to become facilitators of change. They not only studied sustainability—they practiced it by leading conversations, designing tools, and engaging with communities. This experiential approach cultivated leadership, empathy, and systems thinking, equipping students to drive positive change in their future careers.

Living Lab Imaginaries has redefined how business education can contribute to regional development. It demonstrated that impact is not limited to economic metrics; it includes cultural preservation, ecological stewardship, and community resilience. By shifting narratives and inspiring action, the initiative has helped reposition the Alps not just as a tourism destination but also as a space for regeneration, balance, and sustainable futures.

Additional Information

• Hackathon Student Presentations
• “Our Commitments,” GEM Alpine Business School
• “The mountains take center stage for GEM student orientation day,” Mountain Wilderness France